As librarians, we’re called to be responsible
stewards of public funds. We’re the caretakers of the physical collection.
Fines were long seen as a necessary unpleasantry to keep us all honest—or so
the thinking went. Up until recently, Estes Valley Library accounts with items
15 days past due incurred a $5 fee.

And weren’t those fees a big source of Library
revenue? Late fees actually account for less than 1% of revenues (0.24% to be
exact). Factor in time spent managing and collecting these fees, and it’s a
money-losing proposition.

Clearly, the time had come to find a new
approach.

The Library Board of Trustees studied this issue
carefully over several months, and based on thoughtful analysis and trends in
public libraries, we’re happy to introduce a new policy.

Gone are those $5 late fees. Life happens and we
understand it: work demands, family illnesses, weather issues, etc. We just
want the materials back, but, more importantly, we want ‘you’ back.

This shift in approach doesn’t relieve Library
users of their responsibility. In lieu of a ‘grace period’, accounts are
blocked when three or more items become overdue, and/or when there’s a balance
of $10 or more. If materials become thirty days past due, we send you a bill.
Patrons are still responsible for the replacement costs of lost or damaged
items.

Good stewardship is a value guiding this change.
And there’s another value at work: the proven success of restorative practices,
the very kind modeled by our program partners at Estes Valley Restorative
Justice. This new policy moves the needle on the dial away from punishment (the
old practice that gave everyone that twinge of anxiety) toward partnership
(where we work together for everyone’s best interests).

This ‘no-fine’ approach also removes a real
barrier for many of our patrons. During leaner times of the year, a $5 block
can mean some families stop using the Library, depriving children of the very
resources they need to succeed in school and to bring enjoyment to their lives.
The fine-free approach has already been implemented at public libraries across
the country. In random surveys, 80% of parents
said they are more likely to let children check out materials because of
fine-free policies.

One note: late fees will still be charged on
items in the Lucky Day collection. These are a special collection of
bestsellers and hot titles that check out for 7 days—and they’re clearly
identified with a special label.

Saying goodbye to fines gives the Library an opportunity to restore our partnership with every member of the community. When more people can use the Library, and with a little less anxiety, that’s a win-win for everyone.